New Wave Media

 

The subsea technology company will conduct boulder clearing operations in 50 meter water depth, deploying its SCAR2 Seabed System from the Siem Ruby vessel on behalf of client Siem Offshore Contractors.

 

BOWL is located approximately 13km off the Caithness coast and on completion in 2019 will consist of 84 turbines which are expected to power roughly 450,000 homes. 

 

The wind farm is being developed with a Tier 1 supply chain, comprising Seaway Heavy Lifting, Subsea 7, Nexans and Siemens, and is expected to deliver an estimated £680 million ($850mln) into the UK and Scottish economy via employment and supply chain opportunities during the construction phase, and around £400-£525 million  ($500 - $657mln) during the wind farm’s 25-year operational life.

 

Aberdeenshire-based ESS is developing a reputation as one of the leading providers of seabed clearance, pre-trenching and back-fill plough services on major European windfarm and interconnector projects, building on its long track-record on oil and gas workscopes.

 

ESS commercial director, Keith McDermott, said: “We’ve had a busy start to 2017 with mobilisation on a major interconnector project in the North Sea followed by this boulder-clearing workscope for Siem Offshore Contractors.

 

“With experience of similar clearance and trenching workscopes on Race Bank and Westermost Rough windfarms offshore the east coast of England, and a number of projects in the Baltic Sea, our track record in renewables is well-established.

 

“We are focused on exporting this technology and expertise in to emerging markets in Asia and the US, where offshore wind is beginning to get decent traction, and the Beatrice award strengthens our pedigree when bidding for other contracts.

 

“We have a strong relationship with Siem Offshore Contractors, dating back to a boulder clearing and trenching workscope on the EnBW Baltic 2 offshore wind farm."